HUSBANDS WHO DRINK

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 25, 31 January 1933, Page 13

HUSBANDS WHO DRINK

THE LAW ON SEPARATION

"You can't get a separation because a man urihks = occasionally,' because if that was the case-there would not be very many who were not separated," said Mr. J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M., during the hearing of a case at the Magistrate's Court yesterday afternoon in which a woman applied for separation and maintenance >"-. orders against her husband on' the 'grounds of habitual drunkenness and failure to support. The case was a-particularly distressing.one, as it-necessitated the calling oT the two young children of the parties, a boy and a girl,, both under the age of 14, to give evidence as to their father's alleged habits of drunkenness. The little girl broke down completely when being sharply cross-examined by counsel and had "to leave the witness■box. -. - *—. ;. ■-. > ■■.. - -■ . "It. is vviry regrettable," commented Mr. Hewitt at this stage, ''that children have to be brought before the Court in these cases. Surely outside witnesses could give evidence as to drunkenness. If,_a man gets regularly drunk, outside people will know about it." ' ."' ' - ■■ After hearing evidence, Mr. Hewitt said he thought, the drink was more or less" "a stick to beat the dog with." He thought there.i Was somo other reason underlying the trouble. Since August the husband had given his wife all the money he could, and although he did not doubt that.the defendant had gpt drunk on. occasions, he held' that the husband was not an habitual drunkard, and dismissed the application. ' ~